bioaccumulation The process by which fish (and other organisms) take in more contaminants throughout their lifetimes.
Bioaccumulation is the build-up or storage of substances (such as contaminants) in the bodies of animals over time. Bioaccumulation of contaminants can occur by one organism eating another or drinking water that contain these contaminants. Contaminants that bioaccumulate are very slow to change or do not change to a chemical form that can be digested and eliminated by the animal.
The process by which some contaminants or toxic chemicals gradually collect and increase in concentration in living tissue, such as in plants, animals, or humans as they breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water or eat contaminated food.
The accumulation of a contaminant in the tissues of a living organism due to uptake from the environment.
To build up a large amount of a substance by ingesting small amounts over an extended period of time.
Process which harmful substances move through the food chain, by one creature eating another, accumulating (at higher concentrations) in the top carnivores.
to gradually accumulate organic compounds in living tissue, typically from ingestion and/or absorption of food or water
When chemicals build up in organisms that are higher up in the food chain. For example, organisms at the top of the food chain (e.g., eagles, mink, large fish) build up chemicals in their body tissues from eating organisms at the bottom of the food chain (e.g., algae, small fish, etc.) that have lower concentrations of chemicals in their body tissues.
the practice of concentrating a particular substance over time.
Chemicals which increase in concentration in a living creature as it breathes contaminated air, drinks contaminated water, or eats contaminated food
The net accumulation of a contaminant in an organism from all sources, including air, water and food. Toxic chemicals tend to bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of fish, and these toxins increase in concentration as they are passed from the prey to the predator (called biomagnification).
Accumulation of a material, often contaminants in the tissues of an organism
The net uptake of a material by an organism from food, water, and (or) respiration that results in elevated internal concentrations [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)].
the tendency of a substance to be retained by the body. Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative, EPA has classified phthalates as non-bioaccumulating.
The process by which chemical substances are taken up by living things and retained and concentrated as they move up through the food chain.
Bioaccumulation is an overall increase in the concentration of a persistent and toxic substance in the food chain. An organism takes in these substances (e.g., DDT and heavy metals) directly from the environment or by eating food containing the chemicals. Eventually the levels of the toxic substance become high enough to cause biological harm. (, )